The X-Stop® Spacer for the symptons of lumbar spninal stenosis
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Patient Stories

If you have lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), you know how much it can hurt—and how it can rob you of your energy, your joy, and your dignity. You should also know that the X-STOP Spacer has helped many people, like Lee Trevino, safely reclaim their lives. Listen to stories of people who found rapid, sustained relief from the pain of LSS. Although many patients benefit from the use of this treatment, approximately half of the patients who received the X-Stop device in the 2 year study experienced a degree of pain relief and ability to increase their activity levels that was sufficient to be considered a successful outcome at 2 years after surgery.

Lee Trevino Charles Suggs Jack Howell Kathy Bedore Judith Lundberg Michel Wugmeister
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“My life changed because I was no longer in constant agony.”

Charles became imprisoned by the painful symptoms of LSS. Rarely able to leave the house, this outdoorsman and sports enthusiast gained over a hundred pounds and battled clinical depression. “At 50 years old, I thought my life was over.” Epidural injections provided only temporary relief, so his doctor suggested the X-STOP Spacer.

“I’ve had the X-STOP Spacer for seven years—and haven’t had any back and leg pain since.”

Jack was 70 years old when he first experienced intense back and leg pain. “It kept me from taking the long walks my wife and I used to enjoy.” Medication and physical therapy didn’t relieve his pain, but he resisted the idea of major surgery. Instead, Jack chose the X-STOP Spacer procedure. “After X-STOP, I didn’t have any more pain. I was able to walk and work in the yard a lot more than before.”

“It doesn’t require major surgery.”

Kathy lived with agonizing pain from LSS for many years. “For me, a laminectomy was not an option.” Shorter periods of relief from epidural injections and physical therapy led to a greater reliance on pain medications. “I reached a point where I was living on that stuff—and I didn’t like the way it made me feel.” Kathy saw an orthopedic surgeon, who recommended the minimally invasive X-STOP Spacer procedure. Today, Kathy looks back and says, “To have excruciating pain for so many years, and all of a sudden get up one morning and have it literally gone—was unbelievable.”

“Not being in pain anymore is the best thing that ever happened to me.”

After running a dairy farm for 40 years, Judith and her husband welcomed their retirement. But despite the lighter workload, Judith’s chronic back and leg pain got worse. “Gardening was agony. Even mowing the lawn became unbearable.” After trying chiropractic treatment, acupuncture, and painkillers, she consulted an orthopedic surgeon who recommended the X-STOP Spacer. Just 24 hours after the procedure she couldn’t believe the difference. “No pain, and no tingling in my feet.”

“Lumbar spinal stenosis had me beaten, then I fought back.”

Lee Trevino has played golf for nearly 50 years. In 1971, he wowed golf fans worldwide by winning three national Open titles in a row, including the prestigious U.S. Open Championship.

Chronic back pain strikes

In 1975 he was at the peak of his career. “I was on the 13th hole when a lightning bolt struck the lake. The rays came out and knocked me down.” Lee recovered and continued to play golf, but his back was never the same. Then in 2004, Lee slipped as he climbed out of a bunker on the golf course. “I fell backwards. It felt like an electrical shock went right through my body. I knew it was something bad.”

Nonsurgical care falls short

To relieve the pain, Lee endured numerous steroid epidural injections. “I call them big bandages. They worked, maybe for a couple of weeks. But the pain always came back with a vengeance.” It was so strong that Lee could barely move. The active lifestyle he had enjoyed came to an abrupt end. “I just wanted some life back. To be able to walk with my dogs, hit a few practice balls, put on my clothes like I’ve done all my life! I couldn’t do any of it.”

Lumbar spinal stenosis

Lee turned to Dr. Ralph Rashbaum, a spinal specialist, for help. An MRI revealed LSS. Dr. Rashbaum was sympathetic. “Lee was at a point where he was literally crawling through his home. Forget about golf. Forget getting out of the house. He wasn’t functional.”

An alternative to major surgery

Dr. Rashbaum was reluctant to perform major back surgery. “A laminectomy might have left his spine unstable—and would have ended his golf career.” So the doctor presented Lee with another treatment option. As Lee relates, “He said it’s called the X-STOP Spacer. He explained that one advantage of the X-STOP Spacer is no loss of rotation. That’s important because in my business rotation is everything.”

A simple procedure, short recovery, and rapid pain relief

Within hours after the 45-minute surgery, Lee could not believe how much better he felt. “It was the most amazing thing. The pain was completely gone.” After a brief three-week recovery, Lee was doing things that were impossible for him before the X-STOP Spacer procedure.

“I got my life back.”

“In the morning, I walk downstairs, take my little puppies out, go into the gym and work out a little bit, then come back and clean up the breakfast dishes.” And Lee still plays the game he loves. “I’m swinging about as hard as I’ve swung in a long time. My speed is probably about 90 to 95 miles an hour, which is pretty fast for a 68-year-old guy.”

“I was able to backpack with 20 pounds of photo equipment as if nothing had ever happened.”

Severe leg pain threatened to end Michel’s adventures as a wildlife photographer. “It was very upsetting to think that my normal activities would vanish out of my life.” His doctor prescribed physical therapy and epidural steroid injections, but relief was temporary. In 2007, a spine specialist diagnosed LSS. Michel, who was in his 70s, had reservations about major surgery and the potential side effects. The specialist recommended the X-STOP Spacer. “There was no need for a long-term hospitalization. Within 24 hours, the pain was completely and totally gone—as if it had never existed.”

How it works Ready for the X-STOP Spacer

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This treatment is prescribed by your doctor. It is not for everyone. Please talk with your doctor and see if it is right for you. Your doctor should discuss all potential benefits and risks with you. Although many patients benefit from the use of this treatment, approximately half of the patients who received the X-STOP device in the 2-year study experienced a degree of pain relief and ability to increase their activity levels that was sufficient to be considered a successful outcome at 2 years after surgery. This compares with the control group treated with non-surgical care that had a 6% successful outcome treatment success rate.15

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